Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-07-28

fair. was naturally surprised at his
taking the thing so coolly.
"Wo ought to send for the steward at
oncer' l said. in my natural ludigaa-
tion. "Good gad. sir, the place is, per-
haps, infestcdr'
Don't excite yourself" replied
Campbell. "it's my fault; get them in
my work"
Good graciousr' was all l could ut
ter in my horror and astonishment;
and then did very stupid thing-l
manifested curiosity. At the Rice and
Curry to manifest curiosity in any
thing whatsoever is looked upon as tho
very worst Of bad form
"Ah," said. inte,Togatively, ''you
go in for old furniture and things Of
that sort, ehP'
NO." said Campbell. Il bring them
from the East End"
/ looked round the room for wit
ness TO this horrible confession. Talk
Of disturbing influencesl Here was u
man who boasted In cold blood that he
brought disturbing influences OF the
most abominablo kind into the club
smoking-room. For once In my life
my diflidence vanished. l felt that |
was called upon TO perform a duty,
that the eyes Of tho fourteen hundred
aud nincty-cight other members would
look to me to do that duty, and in
stantly determined 20 summon a gem
eral meeting. and to propose Camp
BELLS immediate expulsion.
"Do you feel any interest in my
workP' said he, suavely.
This was the last straw. lrose TO my
feet
"No. sir. said. with just indigna-
tion. II look upon your conduct rs
abominablc and disgusting can on
" hope. sir. that you are insane. y
Here thought of Wugsby and Raving
Madness. 'Tr
Then you approve the opium taxP'
said he, quite calmly. Uitt
He was evidently mad; he could MOI
have been drinking. for he had beer
under my observation for at least two
hours. Perhaps he was mystiiier ol
fool; to me the terms are synon
ymous.
II fancy we are playing at cross pur
poscs," he added, after pause. ''Th'
fact is that go daily among the Chi
nese at the East End, in whom l take
a great interest, and what you hav'
seen is one of the inevitable drawback
I % my occupation"
ii Like all enthusiasts, once started OF
mis- hobby, he proceeded to ride 1t t
Z death. He explained 10 me that b!
: our system of fostering the opium in
I dustry in India we were causing yearl.
= the death and moral ruin Of thousand
Y Of intelligent Chinese. He dilate'
4 upon the subject for at least an hour
4 and then he launched out upon tn
!, destitute condition of the large Chimes
: colony at the East end of London.
) tried TO get away several times, but in
: effectually. At last he succeeded i
0 communicating TO me portion
: very small portion-of his own en-
thusiasm. He painted terrible pict
A ure Of John Chinaman in London
y homeless, penniless, fricndless. hope
|. less, possessed body aud soul by tn
r opium fiend. spending his hard-earne
: coppcrs in sordid dens upon the fats
c drug. which was to assurcdly repay hi
d infatuation by gradually stealing ava
:. his health, his brains, and at last hi
: life. He fairly made my flesh creep.
: my dear fellow" he said, there
+ no time like the present; come and SC
n for yourself
: resisted, but in vain. have said
!. am difiident. l fear have no strengt
h of mind never can say no. i coul
= not say no to Campbell It was te
Y o'clock at night lie got me dow
e stairs. 1t was an. awful night. In
hanson cab he dragged me TO tn
Il most dreadful Of the dreadful slums {
4 the East end Of London. Such sordi
h misery rs l saw there l had never eve
!. dreamed Of rrr
i am not going TO infict upon you
Y long description Of an opium den; tina
r has been done before by the master
A hand, and has been attempted owe
r and over again by puny imitatori
G There lay John Chinaman enjOyin
n his poison. A common china ink-bo
tic and bit Of bamboo formed Ii
v pipe. The ink-bottle had hole in Ill
v side on which the treacly-lookin
n drug was carefully smeared. then
l. was lighted. John smoked a fe
Is whiffs in evident ecstacy. and the
IS John died, or at least appeared to do 81
! Opium-smoking John was a miserabl
I: object; he was lean, sickly-looking.
D. melancholy wight.
:. 'It's very dreadful, isn't it?' saI
/ Campbell. i mustn't let this oppo
n tunity slip. You are doctor.
le want TO see what it's like. 1t ism
N mere curiosity l feel; it's sort
N melancholy duty. Now you're her
l. I'll get you to watch over me-"
~ OF what new absurdity was Campb'
j. about to be guilty3 1t was bad enou:
Ne that he should bring unpleasant proc
no Of his philanthropy to that peacef
I. place. the Rice and Curry Club; il W
10 worse that he should drag me, a pr
al fcssional man, gratuitously-that W
he the extra sting to it-and in the mdd
s. of the night. to an abominablc Chine
no den at the East end Of London. b
,d now he put climax to his wickedne
s. by asking me 10 watch over him, as
10 / were n grhrdian angel | never 4
ly less like = guardian angel in my Iii
ttyos aI,out IN fndiUnantiv refuse---